Hormone replacement Therapy

Hormone Replacement Therapy HRT is intended to replace the hormones that a woman ovaries no longer produce once she has gone through the menopause. Typically the hormones are are forms of oestrogen and progesterone, which may be taken as tablets, through patches or as implants.

HRT has two main benefits. About 25% of women will have troublesome hot flushes during their menopause that respond to HRT. Secondly, HRT has been shown to offer some protection against osteoporosis or thinning of the bone. Women taking HRT have 50% fewer spinal fractures and  30% fewer hip fractures. However this in only true for the time during which HRT is used. Ten years after stopping treatment, there is no longer any detectable benefit.

HRT also improves vaginal dryness that may become troublesome after the menopause. It may also improve a woman's mood and sense of well-being as well as slow ageing of the skin.

There was has been a suggestion that HRT might protect against heart disease. However a recent major US research study that accurately compared the risk of heart disease between women who were taking HRT and those who weren't, showed that HRT increases the risk of heart disease, pulmonary embolism and stroke.

The same study (involving 16,000 women) showed that of those women taking HRT had a 26 per cent higher rate of breast cancer.

It can be difficult to decide whether or not to take HRT. Eating a healthy diet, not smoking, not drinking excessive alcohol, exercising regularly and taking calcium and magnesium supplements can prevent osteoporosis naturally.  On the other hand, if a woman already has some risk factors, such as an early menopause, she may be more inclined towards taking HRT.  The decision is personal and will, like all decisions, depend on having good quality information about the risks and benefits in each case.

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